Chapter 18 – I’m Still a 22-Year-Old Big Baby

Chapter 18 - I'm Still a 22-Year-Old Big Baby

He Zhou had booked a single room for Tang Fei near the Jiangzhou Film and Television Base. Initially, he planned to sleep on the carpet with the air conditioner on. However, with Shu Xiaoan now sharing a room with Tang Fei, it wouldn't be appropriate for He Zhou to sleep on the floor.

"Big Sis, you two go ahead and sleep. I'll book another room."

He Zhou closed the door for Tang Fei and her friend. Tang Fei didn't notice his distress until the next day when she saw He Zhou curled up in a corner of the hotel lobby's resting area.

She glanced at the price board at the reception desk, which displayed 'fully booked' for all rooms. Last night, there were no available rooms. A bitter-sweet feeling welled up inside Tang Fei as she realized He Zhou was half a year younger than her, yet he had always been looking out for her and the original owner.

"A Zhou, wake up," Tang Fei pursed her lips and gently patted He Zhou's shoulder. He Zhou, still groggy, opened his eyes and saw Tang Fei. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "I overslept. It's too early today. Are we heading to the film base now, Big Sis?"

Tang Fei placed the room key into He Zhou's pocket. "Go back to bed. Xia An and I can manage on our own."

"What's there for me to sleep? I just woke up," He Zhou protested innocently. Tang Fei lightly tapped his head. "Don't pretend with your big sis. I know you too well. Hurry up."

He Zhou acknowledged her with an "oh" but remained concerned. "I need to remind Xia An about a few things."

"Stop dawdling. Go upstairs quickly. I'll teach Xia An what she needs to know," Tang Fei waved him off. As He Zhou took a few steps, he turned to look at her. She stared at him resolutely, and only then did he head for the elevator.

At the Jiangzhou Film Studio Base, on January 29th, at the shooting location of "Psychic Frenzy," the crew had temporarily rented a small shed for auditions. Outside, a row of red plastic stools were lined up, occupied by a string of hopeful minor celebrities waiting their turn to try their luck. Only a few well-known actors were allowed to wait in the reception room.

Tang Fei was not among those with reception room privileges. She sat on one of the small stools, holding her audition number, with Shu Xiaoan seated beside her.

The damp, cold air of Jiangzhou permeated them. Tang Fei felt numbness below her knees, as if water had seeped into her shoes.

"Senior Feifei, I checked the temperature. It's two degrees above zero today, with only level three winds. Why is it so chilly?" Shu Xiaoan rubbed her hands together, exhaling warm breaths, and leaned against Tang Fei's down jacket for warmth.

"It must be the difference between the north and south," Tang Fei said, shivering, but aware that there were many people around, including artist fans visiting the set. At any moment, they might be caught on camera, so she couldn't lose her composure. She straightened herself, maintaining an elegant posture. "Aside from temperature and wind, humidity plays a role too."

"Ahh—Guan Liu! I see Guan Liu!" A fan shrieked, drawing a small crowd over. The scene became noisy.

"Senior Feifei, I have some information about Guan Liu," Shu Xiaoan said, retrieving her reddened hands from her pockets to search on her phone. "He's 24 years old, from Shanghai Opera School, specializing in Peking Opera. Last year, he starred in a web film about Peking Opera and sang the theme song. Both the song and the film became popular. One of my classmates is a big fan and says he's very talented."

Tang Fei nodded. New Cinema World had recently signed him; he was a skilled actor with a strong following, handsome, and possessed a commanding presence. He was someone to watch.

Shu Xiaoan gazed enviously across the street to the reception room, which was heated, unlike where they were, exposed to the biting cold. In her heart, she already knew Tang Fei wasn't a major star. With access to online searches, Shu Xiaoan had discovered plenty of negative information about Tang Fei. However, observing her in person, she felt that the online portrayal didn't match reality.

"Feifei, do you think the people in the reception room have a higher chance of success?" Shu Xiaoan compared the individuals across from her with the information she had gathered and shared it with Tang Fei. "There are five people in the reception room: Liu Man, Zhu Yunzhen, Wu Yiyi, Jiang Xiaoying, and Guan Yun."

"Xiao An, you're really good at gathering information so quickly," Tang Fei praised as she rubbed Shu Xiaoan's frostbitten hands in her own pockets. "Go stand where it's less windy and wait for me. I know all these people; we've worked together before."

After several reminders from Tang Fei, Shu Xiaoan finally left with a sneeze.

These people that were mentioned either had connections or were second-tier actresses with some influence. Some even possessed both qualities. For example, there were those whose grandfathers were veterans in the industry, whose fathers and brothers were wealthy, and who had such a massive fan base that they could crash a platform's server. They were all stunning in their own ways, creating a dazzling assembly of beauties vying for Li Xiuyun's role.

With its guaranteed production quality, the popularity of the IP, and an effects company among the investors, the drama was destined to be a hit, big or small. Everyone was eager to secure a role as the female lead, hoping to further boost their popularity.

Tang Fei stood out among the line of actresses waiting for their auditions. Liu Man and Zhu Yunzhen had previously played the second leads when Tang Fei was the main lead. Now, while the previous lead actress braved the cold outside, they enjoyed the warmth inside. It was truly a change of times.

Whispering to each other, Liu Man said, "There's been quite a stir on Weibo. How does Tang Fei dare come for the audition? Isn't she afraid that the production team will kick her out?"

"There's Yao Hui's shadow in the Weibo drama. Neither side is innocent; let them fight it out like dogs," Zhu Yunzhen commented, casting a glance towards Guan Yun.

Wu Yiyi huffed in boredom and continued scrolling through her phone.

Jiang Xiaoying's grandfather, a seasoned veteran within the industry, held strong disapproval for outsiders like Guan Yun who he believed disrupted the inner workings of their circle. With a tinge of sarcasm, he remarked, "Little Princess Yao Hui, a mirror to Yao Hui's discarded child, how utterly comedic."

Guan Yun shot Jiang Xiaoying a glare, who crossed her arms defensively. "If you dare to do it, don't be afraid to speak about it," she retorted.

Guan Yun's assistant hurried over to intervene, for Jiang Xiaoying was notoriously skilled in verbal sparring and, with her grandfather's influence, she commanded respect within the industry. Yao Hui's reach did not extend to her.

Guan Yun felt aggrieved, her eyes fixated on Tang Fei. Being compared to Tang Fei was humiliating enough, but now these people actually thought she was bullying others.

With infamy already upon me, what difference does it make if I bully others!

And so she decided to confront them.

Guan Yun stood up, put on her down jacket, and dashed out, slamming the door behind her as she rushed across the hallway.

Wow!

The companions in the reception room immediately grabbed their metaphorical popcorn, while those queuing up outside made room for the impending showdown. Fans of other celebrities also gathered around to witness the spectacle.

"Live update! I'm at the scene of the Spirit Surge shoot, and Tang Fei and Guan Yun are facing off! The drama is about to unfold, don't miss it!" The fans spread the news in their respective groups, and the massive online attack on Tang Fei seemed to lose some steam as attention shifted towards this new development.

"Tang Fei?" Guan Yun wore a pale yellow down jacket adorned with pom-poms, her fair complexion and sweet smile hardly betraying the murderous intent she had just moments ago.

"Wen Yi glanced up from her phone, "Guan Yun's acting skills have improved."

Jiang Xiaoying dismissed her, "She only knows how to play this game."

"Little Ying, who do you think will win?" Zhu Yunzhen inquired.

"Lets place bets?" Liu Man was ready to start the betting.

Everyone except Jiang Xiaoying put their money on Guan Yun.

"Considering Tang Fei's current state, imagine the mental pressure she must be under just being here. If Guan Yun goes all out to humiliate her, I don't think Tang Fei can handle it," Zhu Yunzhen's analysis seemed well-founded.

The others nodded in agreement, while Jiang Xiaoying commented, "Guan Yun's behavior isn't good for our circle's environment. Resorting to underhanded tactics is too destructive."

"Perhaps she has money to burn."

Guan Yun approached Tang Fei and asked brightly, "Sister Feifei, I heard you're planning to quit and get married? It's quite normal for someone your age to want to settle down. Where is he from?"

The child's sarcasm might have worked on the previous Tang Fei, but not anymore. Tang Fei glanced at the adorable girl with dimples when she smiled. Back in the original owner's time, she would have rolled up her sleeves and started a verbal battle, leaving everyone refreshed with her scathing words. However, with so many fans watching, Tang Fei surveyed the surroundings. Many of them had their phones up, live-streaming the scene. They were all sly foxes; who couldn't tell a tale? Tang Fei pointed at the air, and the "Drunken Concubine" makeup card appeared on her face. Her aura transformed, her emotions surged, and her gaze was mesmerizing, causing Guan Yun to feel dizzy. "Oh dear, Sister Yun, how could there be rumors about me getting married when I don't even have a boyfriend? And I won't quit the industry. I plan to work hard for socialism my whole life." Tang Fei stood up, towering over Guan Yun by a head. Her cheeks had a faint blush, a mix of sobriety and intoxication. She deliberately positioned herself to ensure those with phones were capturing a clear shot before leaning closer to Guan Yun's ear. Guan Yun was trapped in Tang Fei's embrace, trying to pull away, but Tang Fei secretly held onto her, gently pulling Guan Yun closer without it being obvious. It made it seem as if Guan Yun was the one leaning into Tang Fei. This angered Guan Yun, turning her face red as she struggled fruitlessly, her cheeks flushed with blood. Tang Fei's smile became even more enchanting. She reached out to smooth Guan Yun's hair, whispering by her ear, "Sister Yun, you should learn to distinguish between rumors. At 22, you're still young. I'm just a baby." Wow!

Got it! Got it! More explosive than the on-site confrontation, they were actually blushing and whispering intimately to each other?!

What's going on with them? So close, for heaven's sake!

In a blink of an eye, the video was posted on Weibo.

"Oh my god, what's this? Is there a new ship in town?"

"I already have a name for their CP, Above Feng Yun!"

After the massive joint effort of the book fans, the audience had grown a bit weary. The sudden emergence of this video stirred up many people's excitement.

"Tang Fei's figure and aura, she seems more beautiful to me now."

"What was all that online hype about then? Love-hate relationship?!"

"Together! Together!"

"I've already imagined a 100,000-word drama in my head."

The ladies in the reception room were all dumbfounded. Guan Yun had just delivered herself on a silver platter!

Tang Fei's performance was like a meteor shower descending upon an unsuspecting earth, effortlessly dismantling Guan Yun's defenses with a few swift moves. Wu Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter several times while scrolling through her phone, her face turning red from holding back her giggles.

"Liu Man whispered to Jiang Xiaoying, giving her a thumbs up, "Little Ying, your sister has great taste."

Zhu Yunzhen stroked her chin and commented, "I feel like Tang Fei's acting has leaped to a whole new level."

Jiang Xiaoying gathered the snacks she had won from her fellow sisters. "Tang Fei really stepped up. I can see her progress too."

However, her joy lasted no more than thirty seconds before an assistant whisked away the treats. "Little Ying, Li Xiuyun's original character was weak and thin. With your baby fat, you still need to slim down a bit."

Jiang Xiaoying's smile gradually faded.